Most "fashion advice" is catered to either rich people looking to waste money, or midwesterners white collar workers trying to fit in at the office.
But if you go out in public, no one dresses like that. They're wearing a lot of canvas, denim and plaid, lots of face piercings and tattoos, hoodies and beanies. On the fancier end, you'll see oversized flannel jackers and dad sneakers. On older people it's a lot of carhartt and Patagonia.
Out in the suburbs younger people wear athleisure, and older people wear cargo shorts and t shirts.
But when you look at style guides it's like "your guide to chinos and blazers" but only the most obnoxious finance and tech bros wear that shit.
Where do you find style guides for normal people?
What kind of look are you going for? Most of this is just... clothes. Fashion is when you're wearing clothes on purpose to create a specific look or fit in to a specific subculture. Like who do you want to look like?
Also, re: rich people; Fashion is a hobby and costs. If you don't have lots of money to throw around it involves a lot of time haunting thrift and consignment shops, learning how to find stuff you want on re-selling and exchange websites, and learning the brands that cater to your specific look so you can find where you can pick up pieces within your price range. That said - UNIQLO is always a solid place to start.
Edit: Apparently men's fashion right now actually is just "What Frank wears for his landscaping job, but spend a lot of money on it and somehow end up looking like it's 1994, you're white, you live in the burbs, and your mom picked this outfit".
Personally I'd sit this summer out and just go with some classic staples. This year's fashions are both boring and ugly, which is unforgivable.
Frank's evergreen fashion advice
Levi's 501s. Make sure they fit
The M-65 is always in style
It's always worth taking your suit/blazer/jacket in to a tailors and paying for the alterations
If someone is wearing flip flops you don't know their name and you've never seen them before
Fliflops are literally the most practical super hot weather leisure footwear. It’s the closest you can get to barefoot without worrying about stepping on broken glass. You’re not going to impress anyone wearing them but I’ve always thought they look fine with breezy summer clothes. Plus you can get them for like 5 bucks.
I'm sorry who are you? Did we go to school together or something? I'm afraid I don't recognize you.
Seriously though there is no godly reason to ever wear open-toed or anything that isn't secure on your feet. If you can't run flat out in it you shouldn't own it. "But Frank, that's paranoid and insane! Only someone who has spent their life getting shot at, running from cops, showing up first at accidents, walking for miles when your vehicle is disabled, avoiding bears, taking shortcuts, and fighting fascists would think like that!"
Lol. Brb, changing into my brogues. It’s 95 out and they are leather but at least they got those little pinholes in them for airflow.
Get some canvas shoes like chuck taylors.
Also throw out all your cotton socks. Wool is better in every way. they cost more but they also last vastly longer and the performance of light-weight wool socks in hot weather is dramatically better.
Okay, so, confession; My choice of shoes may be influenced by numerous traumatic events that most people probably have not experienced.
Oh I have some canvas shoes, which I will wear in hot weather (without socks) if there’s any chance of activity more intense than a casual stroll. But if I’m walking around the garden or to/from the beach, I’m wearing flip flops.
I otherwise fully respect your fashion advice. Wool is the superior fiber in almost every context, and is much of my wardrobe. My personal approach has been to buy used things of high quality that are frequently conservative/classic enough stylewise that I don’t foresee ever needing to replace them. I haven’t bought clothes in years. But I’m also probably a little older than most folks here so not sure I would suggest that as general advice.
My autism sure likes them. I only wear flip flops and combat boots.
is just Japanese Old Navy
I've seen many, many fashion heads refer people to UNIQLO for inexpensive essentials. I've honestly not spent much time their myself. They don't make anything in my size : (